Learning Disabilities and Autism | James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We are committed to providing a responsive service that recognises the needs of those patients who may be disadvantaged in accessing care and treatment due to disability or other health inequalities.

People with learning disabilities and/or Autism can have high health needs that can at times go unrecognised and unmet. This in turn can impact on life expectancy as well as quality of life. It can also mean that they are likely to be frequent users of general hospital services.

The Trust has a Learning Disability Liaison Nurse to help support people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism and their families and carers who access the hospital for any reason.

The Liaison Nurse works clinically with patients every day, as well as ensuring that staff are given advice and support so that reasonable adjustments can be made to patient care.

The Learning Disability and Autism Liaison Nurse aims to play a crucial role in raising the profile and status of people with a learning disability and/or Autism who attend the James Paget University Hospital.

What services are provided?

How can I contact the department?

Reasonable adjustments

There is a legal requirement for reasonable adjustments to be made to ensure that all patients receive the best standard of care.

These include:

Ensuring a learning disability risk assessment is completed for each patient on admission.
Using a hospital communication booklet so that patients with learning disabilities and/or autism can communicate with doctors and nurses.
Using electronic alerts on patient records.
Providing extra support for patients and their carers. For example, by providing an extra member of staff or flexible visiting for carers.
Working directly with patients and their families/carers to assist them with admission to hospital and to liaise with specialist teams and hospital staff to identify the support required. For example, clinic and pre-operative visits and co-ordinate discharge planning.
Supporting and enabling acute services to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ within their care delivery for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Providing additional support for patients with learning disabilities and/or Autism when they access acute hospital services.
Actively promoting the needs and rights of people with a learning disability and/or autism, including issues of consent, right to treatment and mental capacity.
Raising awareness of the specific health needs of people with a learning disability and/or autism and providing person centred risk assessments that outline interventions and measures to reduce risks.
Acting as an advocate for patients/carers and their families.
Working closely with colleagues in primary care to help patients who are coming in for planned appointments and procedures; preparing them for their hospital stay and making their experience less stressful.
Providing education and training for front-line staff to increase awareness of the needs of patients who have a learning disability and/or autism and how to adapt and plan care for them.

Watch the video, 'It all helps - 5 core reasonable adjustments'

Videos

Further information about supporting people with Learning Disabilities and Autism

Opening times

Telephone

Journeys

Good quality services

Making services better

Easy read - NICE guidance on challenging behaviour

Nice Guidance People With A Learning Disability And Behaviour That Challenges

Easy read - The Care Act

The Care Act Easy Read